Château le Bon Pasteur
Updated on
Profile of Château Le Bon Pasteur in Pomerol. A historic winegrowing estate acquired in 2013 by a Hong Kong group, it is managed by Benoît Prévôt. The 6.6 ha vineyard, certified HVE, is predominantly planted with Merlot on clay-gravel soils.
Identity
Château Le Bon Pasteur is a winegrowing estate located in Maillet, in the commune of Pomerol, in the Gironde department. The property is currently owned by SAS Le Bon Pasteur, a Hong Kong group that acquired the estate in 2013.
The château's technical team comprises Benoît Prévôt, serving as estate manager and oenologist director, alongside Brice Gaillot, cellar master. Consultant oenologists Michel and Dany Rolland, from Laboratoire Rolland & Associés, also contribute their expertise.
History and Philosophy
The history of Château Le Bon Pasteur began in the 1920s when it was founded by Joseph and Hermine Dupuy, the grandparents of Michel Rolland. The property was expanded in 1955 under the stewardship of Serge and Geneviève Rolland. In 1978, Jean-Daniel and Michel Rolland took over.
A new vinification cellar was built in 1987, marking a milestone in the estate's winemaking practices. In 2013, the property was acquired by a group of Hong Kong investors. The château has adopted a sustainable vineyard management strategy (lutte raisonnée) and is certified Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE).
Appellations
The parcels of Château Le Bon Pasteur are situated within the Pomerol appellation. The estate also produces wines under the Lalande-de-Pomerol and Saint-Émilion appellations.
Practical Information
Château Le Bon Pasteur is located in Maillet, 33500 Pomerol. Visits to the estate are available by appointment, and purchases can be made on-site or by mail order.
Telephone: 05 57 24 52 58
Email: contact@chateaulebonpasteur.com
Find Out More
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Château Le Bon Pasteur located and who is the current owner?
- Château Le Bon Pasteur is a winegrowing estate located in Maillet, in the commune of Pomerol, in the Gironde department. It is currently owned by SAS Le Bon Pasteur, a Hong Kong group that acquired the property in 2013. The technical team is managed by Benoît Prévôt, with consultant oenologists Michel and Dany Rolland contributing their expertise.
- What are the characteristics of the Château Le Bon Pasteur vineyard and its grape varieties?
- The vineyard covers an area of approximately 6.6 to 7 hectares, divided into 23 distinct parcels. The average vine age exceeds 40 years, with a high planting density. The soils are predominantly clay-gravel, sandy-gravel, gravelly-clay or deep gravel, resting on a molasse subsoil. The grape varieties are dominated by Merlot (80% to 85%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (15% to 20%).
- What certifications does Château Le Bon Pasteur hold and under which appellations does it produce?
- Château Le Bon Pasteur has adopted a sustainable vineyard protection strategy and is certified Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE). The estate's main parcels are located in the Pomerol appellation. The château also produces wines under the Lalande-de-Pomerol and Saint-Émilion appellations, providing diversity across its range.
- How are vinification and ageing conducted at Château Le Bon Pasteur?
- Harvesting is done by hand, with double sorting of the grapes. Vinification is carried out by plot selection in small temperature-controlled vats, including a 5- to 7-day cold maceration. The estate practises integral vinification (vinification intégrale) in new French oak barrels for alcoholic fermentation. Ageing lasts between 12 and 18 months depending on the vintage, predominantly in new French oak barrels, and bottling is performed without fining.
The Vineyard (Terroir)
The Château Le Bon Pasteur vineyard covers an area of approximately 6.6 to 7 hectares, divided across 23 distinct parcels. The average vine age is over 40 years, with an average planting density of 6,500 to 7,000 vines per hectare.
The soils are mainly clay-gravel, sandy-gravel, gravelly-clay or deep gravel, resting on a subsoil of sandy and clayey molasse, occasionally with traces of iron pan (crasse de fer).
The grape varieties are dominated by Merlot (80% to 85%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (15% to 20%). Vineyard management practices include green harvesting, thinning, and de-leafing, as part of a sustainable farming approach.
Flagship Cuvées
The estate's principal cuvée is Château Le Bon Pasteur, a red wine. The estate's second wine is L’Étoile de Bon Pasteur.
Vinification and Ageing
Harvesting is carried out by hand, with double sorting of the grapes before and after destemming. Vinification is conducted with intra-plot selection in small temperature-controlled vats ranging from 15 to 70 hectolitres, a system installed in 1987. A cold pre-fermentation maceration lasting 5 to 7 days is carried out, followed by gentle pressing.
The estate practises integral vinification (vinification intégrale), carrying out alcoholic fermentation directly in new French oak barrels. Ageing lasts between 12 and 15 months, or 12 to 18 months depending on the vintage, in one-year-old French oak barrels, with around 70% new oak. Bottling is carried out without fining.
- Appellations
- Pomerol, Lalande-de-Pomerol, Saint-Émilion
- Commune
- Pomerol
- Wine region
- Libournais
- Owner
- groupe Hongkongais
- Technical direction
- Laboratoire Rolland & Associés
- Surface area
- 5.2 ha
- Second wine
- L’Étoile de Bon Pasteur
- Certifications
- HVE
- Grape varieties
- Merlot 80%, Cabernet Franc 20%
Practical information
- Address
- Maillet, 33500 Pomerol
- Phone
- +33557245258
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Visits
- Oui sur rendez-vous